The current state of affairs at Chelsea is a problematic one to say the least. Struggles on the field have worsened with chants for former coach Thomas Tuchel to return amid the dismal run of results, but Todd Boehly will stick with Graham Potter.
Potter's current playing squad is made up of ageing players, eager young stars, wantaway figures and others struggling for consistency. The January window has arrived at the perfect time for Boehly and Potter, with plenty more reinforcements expected to follow the three already through the door.
Benoit Badiashile has already undergone preparations to make his Chelsea debut after completing his £33.6million move from AS Monaco while future stars David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos have followed the defender to west London. Joao Felix is close to bolstering Potter's offensive options on loan from Atletico Madrid but the midfield remains a persistent issue at Stamford Bridge.
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One statistic that has surfaced over the past few months is that Chelsea have not permanently signed a midfielder since Mateo Kovacic's 2019 arrival. There have been short-term fixes in Saul and Denis Zakaria, but the area of the Blues' squad has long been overshadowed to allow millions to be spent on failed transfers elsewhere.
Benfica's World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez has been made a priority this winter and talks are expected to continue over a move to England. However, the Argentinian will cost Boehly over £100million due to the release clause inserted into his contract when he arrived from River Plate.
Chelsea have often spent big over the years in an attempt to compete with the best, but they have come upon success by churning out world class talent from the academy at Cobham. Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Trevoh Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to name a few, have all become regulars within the first team.
Now, in 2023, history could repeat itself with Charlie Webster. The midfielder, 18, has become a well-established member of the Under-21s side this campaign after graduating through the youth set-up. Webster has progressed magnificently this season for Mark Robinson's side and has already caught the eye of Potter.
During the mid-season trip to Dubai, Webster was part of Potter's first team and featured in the friendly defeat to Aston Villa. The box-to-box ace has also taken part in a number of training sessions with the senior squad and has found himself linked with a surprise move to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
Webster is yet to make his senior debut but has been handed fresh optimism by Potter since his arrival with the implementation of youth into his team. Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson are now solidified first team figures in the changing room while Bashir Humphreys made his debut at the weekend in the FA Cup.
N'Golo Kante's long absence with injury has left a deep wound in Chelsea's midfield with Jorginho struggling to have an impact on the game as he once did in Blue. Potter has been desperate for a fresh injection of quality in the middle of the park and Webster could be the answer.
Against Leicester City Under-21s on Monday evening, football.london kept a close eye on the maestro as Chelsea comfortably dispatched their opponents 2-0. Dion Rankine's early opener was bettered by an outrageous right-footed strike from Webster just before the break.
A Leicester throw-in was poorly given away to Dion Rankine, who himself deserves an honourable mention, before Webster picked the ball 30 yards out. The midfielder took two touches before unleashing a curled effort around Chituru Odunze into the top corner.
His fourth league goal summed up the 18-year-old's Man of the Match display. Calm and collected in possession, Webster also read the game and often, alongside Ben Elliott, dismantled any Leicester attacks at the half-way line. If any of Potter's coaching staff were looking for the next first-team option, they've got one.
What Chelsea decide to do with Webster in the next six months could prove pivotal. Webster's current contract in west London is due to expire in June and reports in the opening week of the January transfer window have tipped PSV Eindhoven to swoop in.
Similar to previous individuals who have made the jump to Potter's squad, there remains plenty of unfilled potential to tap into for Webster. Working with a manager of Potter's history of nurturing young talent may be the best chance of the midfielder excelling and becoming a regular at Stamford Bridge in years to come.
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